TransPRK – is it really a revolution?

TransPRK method is advertised as an 'innovation and novelty', while in fact it is just a variant of the oldest laser vision correction method - PRK.

TransPRK and EBK - is it really a revolution?

Sometimes the patients ask about so called 'touchless method', which is available in two laser vision correction centres. TransPRK method, refered to as 'touchless', may seem attractive but actually every laser vision correction surgery requires use of certain tools which always do touch the eye. It is impossible to make the laser work properly without preventing the patient from blinking beforehand. To keep the eyelids apart an instrument called eyelid speculum is used. The speculum obviously touches the eyelids and the surface of the eye. The TransPRK method itself - removing the epithelium with an excimer laser and then correcting the refractive error - is not a novelty at all: some of the excimer laser are capable of operating on the surface of the eye. Therefore, TransPRK is simply a variant of PRK or LASEK methods (in which the epithelium is removed surgically - the oldest methods of laser vision correction), which are classified as surface methods, same as Epi-LASIK and EBK (mechanical removal of the epithelium of the cornea). Those methods (PRK and EBK) cause many postprocedural disorders (acute pain for 3-4 days, blurred vision, etc.). A clinic which promotes TransPRK or EBK methods as 'innovative' doesn't incur expenses connected with purchasing microkeratome and its expensive exploitation. That way they simply save money and promote old methods as expensive.

To sum up:
TransPRK and EBK methods are often advertised as 'novelty', while in fact being a variant of PRK method (the oldest laser vision correction method, practised since 1985r.) Trans PRK and EBK surgeries have exactly the same effects as PRK: acute postprocedural pain, long recovery period, but offered for a new, 'better' price.

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